Bath's Mary Berry has been named in the top five celebrities that people in England, Scotland and Wales would most like to have as their grandparents.
In new research conducted on the lead up to national Grandparents Day on Sunday 5 October, over 2,300 people were asked to name their ideal celebrity grandparents. The top five choices for celebrity granddads were:
1. Sean Connery
2. David Jason
3. David Attenborough
4. Stephen Fry
5. George Clooney
The top five female celebrities that people would like as their grandma were:
1. Dame Helen Mirren
2. Dame Judi Dench
3. Queen Elizabeth II
4. Mary Berry
5. Joanna Lumley/Maggie Smith
According to the Grandparents Association there are 14 million grandparents in the UK, and a recent poll on behalf of Grandparents Plus found seven out of ten grandparents say 'the financial, practical and caring contribution they make is not recognised'.
The research, carried out by pub chain Hungry Horse, also found under half of those asked could not recall ever treating their grandparents, and called on everyone to show more appreciation for their eldest relatives.
The research showed 72% of those surveyed were looked after by their grandparents as children, but only 49% were able to recall ever treating them to anything such as a gift or a meal out. Of those, less than a third did so, regularly.
In the current climate grandparents can often play a very important part in the family, particularly when it comes to the rising cost of child care[i]. Of respondents who have children of their own, 45% said that their parent or parents looked after their grandchild/grandchildren at least a few times a year, with 30% doing so once a month or more.
Matt Brown, director for Hungry Horse, said: "I think the public have chosen very well and I hope that Sir Sean Connery and Dame Helen Mirren both feel pleased to have been selected as our honorary grandparents.
"Being a grandparent is an important job and as our survey suggests it can often mean providing child care. I am sure that all grandparents who look after their grandchildren do so because they love spending time with their family but that does not mean that we cannot all show them a little appreciation every now and again. Grandparents' Day on 5 October is a perfect opportunity to thank them."
Grandparents eat for free at Hungry Horse pubs on Sunday 5 October and the pub chain has been giving out free Grandparents' Day cards for their customers to use.
[i] The Family and Childcare Trust, Childcare Costs Survey 2014 found national childcare costs have risen by 27% over the last five years
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